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Wire

Target's New Beauty Studio Visually Appealing, But Remains a Wildcard, Oppenheimer Says

Target's (TGT) new Beauty Studio is visually appealing and well-curated, but whether it translates to sales growth remains a wildcard, Oppenheimer said in a Friday note.The new offering launched in more than 600 stores nationwide and online, including over 1,600 products from 90 prestige, emerging and global brands, it said.Over two-thirds of the brands are new to Target, while more than 60% are also carried at specialty retailers Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Sephora, Oppenheimer said.The firm said its initial store visits showed a bigger presence of skincare, haircare and K-Beauty relative to makeup."We look forward to seeing how the assortment and experience evolves over time," the note said.Oppenheimer maintained its outperform rating on Target with a price target of $180.Price: $156.16, Change: $+0.43, Percent Change: +0.28%

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Wire

Ulta Beauty's Updated 2026 Guidance Driven by Stronger Execution, Sustained Share Gains, UBS Says

Ulta Beauty's (ULTA) updated 2026 guidance is being driven by strong execution, sustained market share gains, and better traction from new products, UBS said in a Thursday research note.The management continues to embed appropriate conservatism as H2 comparisons are expected to be more difficult, UBS said, adding that the new guidance supports the view that Ulta Beauty's performance is being driven by company-specific factors rather than a broad recovery in beauty industry.For the full year, Ulta Beauty now expects comparable sales growth of 3.2% to 3.7% versus 2.5% to 3.5% previously, net sales growth is slated to be between 6.7% to 7.2% compared with prior estimate of 6% to 7%. Meanwhile, EPS is expected to be $28.70 to $29.00, compared with $28.36 to $28.80 earlier.The company's H2 pipeline will see new brand launches and exclusive product introductions from existing partners, which should support traffic, engagement, and category mix, as the midpoint of the company's comparable sales guidance implies about 2.5% growth in H2, below H1's 4.6% growth, UBS said.The firm further said it expects most of H2 profitability pressure to be concentrated in Q3, with the quarter facing difficult comparisons as the prior-year period benefitted from pricing-related actions.UBS lowered its price target to $710 from $735 and maintained its buy rating.Price: $516.41, Change: $-23.69, Percent Change: -4.39%

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Ulta Beauty's Quarterly Results Show Improving Comparable Sales Growth Trend, Oppenheimer Says
US Markets

Ulta Beauty's Quarterly Results Show Improving Comparable Sales Growth Trend, Oppenheimer Says

Ulta Beauty's (ULTA) two-year comparable sales growth trend accelerated in the fiscal second quarter, suggesting the company is better positioned to navigate upcoming difficult comparisons, Oppenheimer said in a note emailed Friday.The beauty retailer delivered better-than-expected second-quarter results on Thursday. Comparable sales increased 3.8% in the fiscal second quarter, versus 6.7% growth a year earlier. The Street expected same-store sales growth of 2.3%.Two-year comparable sales growth trend accelerated to 10.5% from 8.2% in the first quarter, according to Oppenheimer. The improvement increases "our confidence in management's ability to lap upcoming difficult compares," analyst Rupesh Parikh wrote.Ulta raised its fiscal 2026 comparable sales growth outlook to 3.2% to 3.7% from its prior guidance of 2.5% to 3.5%. Analysts polled by FactSet expect 3.6%.Ulta shares were down 3.7% in Friday morning trade. The stock has fallen 14% so far this year.Earlier this week, Bath & Body Works (BBWI) said its net sales fell 2.3% year over year in the fiscal second quarter to $1.51 billion. Rival Sally Beauty Holdings (SBH) said earlier this month that its consolidated comparable sales were flat in the fiscal third quarter, while comparable sales at its Sally Beauty segment increased 1.6%.Ulta raised its full-year per-share earnings outlook to $28.70 to $29.00 for the current fiscal year from the prior view of $28.36 to $28.80. Oppenheimer said it had expected the company to reiterate its prior guidance, citing management's conservative nature.Oppenheimer maintained an outperform rating on Ulta, with a $650 price target."We continue to look favorably on Ulta's long-term prospects," Parikh said, citing multiple reasons, including the company's "differentiated offering and unique value proposition."Oppenheimer is now looking for EPS of $28.70 for fiscal 2026 and $31.85 for fiscal 2027 for Ulta, up from its prior estimates of $28.55 and $31.70, respectively.Price: $520.99, Change: $-19.11, Percent Change: -3.54%

$BBWI$SBH$ULTA
Wire

Ulta Beauty Set to Continue Growing Profitably, BofA Securities Says

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is set up to continue to grow profitably as the company posted a Q2 comp beat and share gains while protecting gross margins during its toughest quarter, Bank of America Securities said in a Friday research report.Comp durability was supported by higher ticket, primarily due to category mix, and market share gains in the company's prestige category despite stiff competition, according to the note.Promotions increased in Q2 in an uncertain environment, but Ulta's underlying business improved modestly on lower shrink and supply chain productivity, analysts wrote.The brokerage said it reiterated its buy rating on the stock and lowered its price target to $650 per share from $685.Price: $509.68, Change: $-30.43, Percent Change: -5.63%

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Wire

UBS Adjusts Price Target on Ulta Beauty to $710 From $735, Keeps Buy Rating

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $635.45, according to analysts polled by FactSet.Price: $532.94, Change: $-7.16, Percent Change: -1.33%

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Update: Equity Markets Rise Intraday Amid Tech Boost; Nvidia Rallies
US Markets

Update: Equity Markets Rise Intraday Amid Tech Boost; Nvidia Rallies

(Updates with latest market prices and developments.)US benchmark equity indexes were higher intraday, led solely by the technology sector amid post-earnings rallies in shares of Nvidia (NVDA) and several other key players in the domain.The Nasdaq Composite was up 1.6% at 26,541.6 after midday Thursday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.8% to 7,737. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.4% to 53,659.8. The three indexes finished the previous trading session lower, with the Dow snapping a three-day winning streak.Tech was the only sector in the green intraday Thursday, up 3.2%, while consumer staples saw the steepest decline.Nvidia shares jumped 9.5%, the second-biggest gain on the Dow, as the tech bellwether's fiscal second-quarter results more than doubled from a year earlier and topped Wall Street's expectations late Wednesday amid record data center sales. Nvidia expects fiscal 2028 revenue to grow about 70% year over year.The chipmaking giant offered a surprisingly strong sales outlook, while its gross margin guidance provided clarity amid rising memory costs, Morgan Stanley said in a note.Salesforce (CRM) shares soared 21% intraday Thursday, the best performer on both the S&P 500 and the Dow. The customer relationship management platform late Wednesday increased its full-year revenue guidance after delivering a fiscal second-quarter beat.CrowdStrike (CRWD) surged 19% intraday Thursday, the second-steepest rise on the S&P 500. The company late Wednesday raised its full-year net new annual recurring revenue amid increasing demand for cybersecurity solutions to address artificial intelligence risks. CrowdStrike reported better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results.Hormel Foods (HRL) was the worst performer on the S&P 500 intraday Thursday, down 9.2%. The company lowered its fiscal 2026 sales outlook as it reported mixed third-quarter results, with the top-line pressured amid a challenging consumer environment.Marvell Technology (MRVL), Workday (WDAY), and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) are scheduled to report after the closing bell Thursday, along with others.US Treasury yields were little changed intraday, with the two- and 10-year yields at 4.22% and 4.67%, respectively.The Federal Reserve's annual economic policy symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, was scheduled to kick off Thursday, with Chair Kevin Warsh slated to speak Friday.Markets are currently pricing in a 66% probability that the central bank's Federal Open Market Committee will keep its benchmark lending rate steady next month, with the remaining odds in favor of a 25-basis-point increase, according to the CME FedWatch tool.West Texas Intermediate crude oil edged up 0.6% to $82.76 a barrel intraday, while Brent rose 1.2% to $88.89.Iran and Oman are working on finalizing a deal that will see both countries share control of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Thursday and discussed the emerging Hormuz agreement between Tehran and Oman, CNN reported.Spot gold rose 0.5% to $4,612.27 per troy ounce, while silver gained 2.5% to $70.52 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CRM$CRWD$HRL$MRVL$NVDA$ULTA$WDAY
Stocks Mostly Up Pre-Bell as Traders Parse Nvidia Results, Await Fed Chair's Speech
US Markets

Stocks Mostly Up Pre-Bell as Traders Parse Nvidia Results, Await Fed Chair's Speech

US equity markets were mostly trending higher before the opening bell Thursday as traders digest Nvidia's (NVDA) latest financial results and prepare for Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's speech on Friday.The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, and the Nasdaq increased 1% in premarket activity, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.1%. The three main indexes finished the previous trading session lower, with the Dow snapping a three-day winning streak.Shares of Nvidia jumped 6.9% pre-bell as the tech bellwether's fiscal second-quarter results more than doubled from a year ago and topped Wall Street expectations amid record data center sales.CrowdStrike (CRWD) climbed 9.3% as the firm lifted its full-year net new annual recurring revenue outlook amid increasing demand for cybersecurity to address risks associated with the adoption of artificial intelligence. Salesforce (CRM) spiked 11% after raising its fiscal 2027 guidance.Dollar General (DG) shares gained nearly 13% after the discount retailer beat Wall Street estimates for the fiscal second quarter. Dollar Tree (DLTR) shares fell over 4% after the company's latest quarterly earnings.The Fed's annual economic policy Symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is set to kick off on Thursday, with Warsh scheduled to speak on Friday.Markets are currently pricing in a roughly 64% probability that the Federal Open Market Committee will keep its benchmark lending rate steady next month, with the remaining odds in favor of a 25-basis-point increase, according to the CME FedWatch tool.Government data on Wednesday showed that US inflation accelerated sequentially in July, keeping the Fed's preferred gauge for price increases well above its 2% target, while consumer spending growth eased."As long as the month-on-month rate continues to come in close to 0.2%, the annual rate of inflation will converge on 2% over time, but the question is how much more patience the Fed actually has," ING Bank said in a Wednesday report. "Markets continue to price a (25 basis point) rate hike before year-end while economists, in general, still favor an extended pause for policy rates."Treasury yields were up in premarket action, with the two- and 10-year rates each inclining 0.6 basis points to 4.23% and 4.67%, respectively.Iran and Oman are working on finalizing a deal that will see both countries share control of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly told state news agency Tasnim that the US is obstructing the Iran-Oman deal, according to a CNBC report. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani is reportedly traveling to Iran on Thursday as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran.West Texas Intermediate crude oil dipped 0.1% to $82.17 a barrel before the open, while Brent nudged 0.4% higher to $88.18.Burlington Stores (BURL), Best Buy (BBY) and Hormel Foods (HRL) are scheduled to release their quarterly earnings before the bell, among others. Marvell Technology (MRVL), Workday (WDAY) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) post their results after the markets close.Thursday's economic calendar has the international trade in goods data, as well as the retail and wholesale inventories reports, all for July, at 8:30 am ET, along with the weekly jobless claims bulletin. The Kansas City Fed manufacturing index for August is out at 11 am.Gold declined 0.6% to $4,654.79 per troy ounce, while bitcoin gained nearly 2% to $79,982.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BBY$BURL$CRM$CRWD$DG$DLTR$HRL$MRVL$NVDA$ULTA$WDAY
Bath & Body Works Upgrades Earnings Outlook Following Second-Quarter Beat; Shares Rise
US Markets

Bath & Body Works Upgrades Earnings Outlook Following Second-Quarter Beat; Shares Rise

Bath & Body Works (BBWI) shares jumped Wednesday as the company raised its full-year earnings outlook following a fiscal second-quarter beat amid tariff refund tailwinds.The personal care and home fragrance retailer now expects 2026 adjusted earnings between $2.60 and $2.80 a share, up from its prior outlook range of $2.40 to $2.65. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect $2.64. Bath & Body Works now projects full-year net sales to decline 4% to 2.5%, compared with its previous forecast calling for a 4.5% to 2.5% to drop.For the quarter through Aug. 1, adjusted EPS jumped to $0.62 from $0.37 a year earlier, topping Wall Street's views for $0.24. Net sales declined 2.3% to $1.51 billion, while the market expected $1.5 billion.Second-quarter adjusted EPS included the benefit from about $80 million of tariff refunds, Chief Executive Daniel Heaf said on an earnings conference call, according to a FactSet transcript. Excluding the benefit, the metric would have been $0.31, $0.06 above the high end of the company's outlook range, according to Heaf.Bath & Body Works shares were up 6.3% in afternoon trade. The stock has lost 6.2% in value so far in 2026."While the underlying business remains pressured and our performance is not yet where we want it to be, we are where we expected to be and our teams are moving at pace to execute our strategy," Heaf told analysts. "Our priority in the back half is to continue to strengthen the underlying drivers of sustainable growth, while closely tracking leading indicators to validate our actions are working ahead of our goal of revenue growth in 2027."Bath & Body Works will exit its home care category, which includes laundry and kitchen products, as the business "creates disproportionate product and operating complexity without generating the productivity or incremental demand required to justify the cost," Heaf said.For the ongoing quarter, the company expects adjusted EPS between $0.07 and $0.12, compared with the Street's expectations of $0.25. The retailer projects third-quarter net sales to fall between 5% and 2.5%."We have been clear since introducing the consumer first formula nine months ago that returning Bath & Body Works to sustainable growth is a multiyear transformation," Heaf told analysts. "2026 remains an investment year."Last week, cosmetics maker Estee Lauder (EL) bumped up its fiscal 2027 operating margin outlook and set sales guidance in line with its preliminary views. Beauty retailer Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is scheduled to report results Thursday.Price: $18.86, Change: $+1.28, Percent Change: +7.25%

$BBWI$EL$ULTA
Ulta Beauty Second-Quarter Same-Store Sales Poised for Beat, Deutsche Bank Says
US Markets

Ulta Beauty Second-Quarter Same-Store Sales Poised for Beat, Deutsche Bank Says

Ulta Beauty's (ULTA) fiscal second-quarter same-store sales growth is expected to top market estimates amid "solid underlying execution," potentially paving the way for an upgraded full-year earnings outlook, Deutsche Bank said Tuesday.The brokerage expects the beauty retailer to post second-quarter same-store sales growth of 2.8% when it reports results Thursday. Wall Street is looking for a gain of 2.4%, according to Deutsche Bank."We expect Ulta's (second-quarter) results to demonstrate solid underlying execution over the past several months, pointing to a sequential acceleration in the (two-year) stack," Deutsche Bank analyst Krisztina Katai said in a note to clients.The upcoming print can offer further proof of Ulta's ability to control expenses, with selling, general, and administrative expense growth expected to moderate to high-single digits in the second quarter and further to 3% or less in the second half of the year from mid-teens in the first quarter, according to the note."Combined with continued sales momentum, this supports our expectation for a ($0.20) increase to (full-year earnings-per-share) guidance," Katai said.While the second quarter is Ulta's "most difficult compare," the debate likely has moved beyond whether the beauty retailer can "comp the comp" toward the quality and sustainability of its top-line momentum amid a more competitive beauty landscape, Katai said. The company's investors are "increasingly concerned" that it could need greater promotional intensity and pressure margins in order to maintain growth, according to the note.Ulta's shares were down 1.3% in Tuesday afternoon trade, bringing its year-to-losses to 12%.Last week, cosmetics maker Estee Lauder (EL) bumped up its fiscal 2027 operating margin outlook and set sales guidance in line with its preliminary views.With the upcoming results, Ulta's management can also reinforce confidence that the company's growth continues to be "fundamentally healthy and sustainable," Katai said Tuesday."Product innovation across major partner brands appears to be improving, the exit of the [Target (TGT)] partnership creates an opportunity for sales recapture, and we expect increased contribution as newer growth avenues scale, including Wellness, TikTok Shop, Marketplace, UB Media, and international expansion," the analyst wrote.Previously, Ulta and retailer Target said they mutually agreed not to renew their shop-in-shop partnership when the current deal concludes in August."We remain constructive on Ulta," Katai said Tuesday. "Beyond (the second quarter), we see a strong setup for 2027 as SG&A growth normalizes and higher-margin profit streams, particularly UB Media and Marketplace, become larger contributors to growth."Last week, Oppenheimer said Ulta will likely meet second-quarter market expectations, though ongoing uncertainty and increasing US competition will prompt management to keep full-year forecasts unchanged.Price: $531.23, Change: $-7.53, Percent Change: -1.40%

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Wire

Ulta Beauty's Growth Algorithm Remains Durable Despite Tougher Comps, UBS Says

Ulta Beauty's (ULTA) Q2 results should reinforce that the company's growth algorithm remains durable even as comparable sales moderate against a tough prior-year comparison, UBS said in a note Friday.The firm said the slowdown reflects normalization rather than deterioration, with beauty category fundamentals still healthy and every major category posting positive growth in the quarter.UBS said industry checks do not support the view that the promotional environment has become meaningfully more aggressive, with discount depth actually improving year over year even as promotional breadth ticked up modestly.The firm also pointed to stable foot traffic and steady customer share-of-wallet as evidence that competitive pressure from Amazon (AMZN) and Walmart (WMT) has not materially eroded Ulta's position, stating that it expects Ulta to raise its full-year EPS guidance following the print.UBS maintained its buy rating on the stock with a price target of $735.Price: $537.09, Change: $+15.63, Percent Change: +3.00%

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Estee Lauder Shares Rally as Cosmetics Maker Upgrades Margin Guidance
US Markets

Estee Lauder Shares Rally as Cosmetics Maker Upgrades Margin Guidance

Estee Lauder (EL) shares rallied Wednesday after the cosmetics maker bumped up its fiscal 2027 operating margin outlook and set sales guidance in line with its preliminary views.The company now expects adjusted operating margin between 12.7% and 13.5%, up from a 12.5% to 13% range provided in May. Estee Lauder doesn't forecast a material impact from the Middle East conflict in fiscal 2027.The owner of beauty brands such as MAC expects full-year net sales to grow 3% to 5%, in line with its preliminary outlook. Estee Lauder expects adjusted earnings between $3.10 and $3.35 per share. The current consensus on FactSet is for 3.4% year-over-year revenue growth and non-GAAP EPS of $3.19.The stock soared 17% in Wednesday trade, reducing its year-to-date loss to 5.6%."We expect organic net sales growth in the first half of the year to be stronger than in the second half, reflecting a slate of innovation earlier in the year and stronger travel retail shipments, given improved retail trends and a lower base of shipments in the prior year," Chief Financial Officer Akhil Shrivastava said during an earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript.RBC Capital Markets expected Estee Lauder to provide full-year guidance in line with its preliminary expectations."Depending on the timing and magnitude of tariff refunds, (Estee Lauder) may see a one-time margin bump, but we would expect EL to reinvest back into the business to further bolster the top-line," the brokerage said in a note on Monday.For the fiscal fourth quarter ended in June, Estee Lauder's adjusted EPS jumped to $0.39 from $0.09 a year ago, exceeding Wall Street's estimate of $0.32. Sales improved 6% to $3.63 billion, ahead of the Street's view for $3.55 billion.Revenue in the skin care business rose 9% to $1.85 billion, while fragrance climbed 10%. Makeup sales increased 3% to $1.01 billion.Estee Lauder said it will eliminate about 10,000 positions, reflecting the high end of its prior expectation under a program aimed at strengthening operating margin and supporting reinvestment in consumer-facing areas.Earlier in the month, cosmetics company Elf Beauty (ELF) raised its full-year guidance. Beauty retailer Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is scheduled to release its latest quarterly results on Aug. 27.Price: $98.28, Change: $+14.01, Percent Change: +16.63%

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Wire

Ulta Beauty Q2 Forecasts Appear Achievable, Conservative Guidance Update Seen, Oppenheimer Says

Ulta Beauty's (ULTA) fiscal Q2 consensus forecasts appear achievable, but management will likely reiterate its full-year 2026 targets amid ongoing uncertainty on the consumer and macroeconomic front, Oppenheimer said in a note Tuesday.The company is expected to post its Q2 results Aug. 27."Management has taken a prudent approach to guidance so far this year, and we would expect the same on the Q2 print," the note said.Oppenheimer said consensus forecasts for a 2.3% increase in comparable sales and earnings per share of $6.18 are "achievable," as it expects Ulta to "benefit from a still attractive beauty backdrop, ongoing newness, and traction with key company initiatives."The investment firm also said recent data points indicate a "healthy beauty backdrop," with L'Oreal noting a continued North American acceleration in Q2.Oppenheimer has an outperform rating on Ulta and a $650 price target.Shares of Ulta Beauty were up 5.7% in Tuesday trading.Price: $521.90, Change: $+28.57, Percent Change: +5.79%

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Ulta Beauty to Meet Second Quarter Street Views, Maintain Full-Year Forecasts, Oppenheimer Says
US Markets

Ulta Beauty to Meet Second Quarter Street Views, Maintain Full-Year Forecasts, Oppenheimer Says

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) will likely meet second-quarter market expectations, though ongoing uncertainty and increasing US competition will prompt management to keep full-year forecasts unchanged even with a potential earnings beat, Oppenheimer said Tuesday.The brokerage said Wall Street's estimates for earnings per share of $6.18 and comparable store sales growth of 2.3% in the second quarter are "achievable.""We expect the chain to benefit from a still attractive beauty backdrop, ongoing newness, and traction with key company initiatives," Oppenheimer analysts said.Management will likely maintain its conservative outlook and confirm full-year performance targets despite an earnings beat due to ongoing broader economic headwinds, shifting consumer demand, and heightened market competition, according to the note."We would continue to take advantage of any potential dips in a likely volatile trade as (Ulta Beauty) is still up against difficult comp comparisons until (second quarter of 2027)," Oppenheimer added. "Based on our review of historical valuations and free cash generation, we see a bottom in the mid-$400s."The investment firm said the current risk-reward profile for Ulta Beauty shares was attractive and reiterated an outperform rating on stock with a 12-18 month price target of $650.Ulta Beauty was up by nearly 6% in Tuesday trade, reducing the year-to-date loss to about 13.8%.Ulta Beauty is scheduled to release its latest quarterly results on Aug. 27.Elsewhere in the beauty sector, Estee Lauder (EL) will report fiscal fourth quarter and full-year results before the market opens on Wednesday. The cosmetics company will likely provide full-year guidance in line with its preliminary expectations, as most factors underpinning the outlook remain intact, RBC Capital Markets said in a Monday client note.Price: $520.92, Change: $+27.59, Percent Change: +5.59%

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Estee Lauder Likely to Issue Fiscal 2027 Guidance In Line With Preliminary Outlook, RBC Says
US Markets

Estee Lauder Likely to Issue Fiscal 2027 Guidance In Line With Preliminary Outlook, RBC Says

Estee Lauder (EL) is likely to provide full-year guidance in line with its preliminary expectations, as most factors underpinning the outlook remain intact, RBC Capital Markets said in a Monday client note.In May, the cosmetics company said its preliminary forecast for fiscal 2027 was for sales to grow between 3% and 5% and its operating margin to be in a range of 12.5% and 13%.At the time, the guidance reflected growth acceleration in Estee Lauder's global prestige beauty segment, no business disruptions from the US-Iran war, no tariff-related impacts and no deterioration in the geopolitical situation and consumer sentiment, according to RBC. The brokerage believes Estee Lauder's outlook will fall within the original range as the initial assumptions remain "largely intact.""Depending on the timing and magnitude of tariff refunds, (Estee Lauder) may see a one-time margin bump, but we would expect EL to reinvest back into the business to further bolster the top-line," RBC's co-head of global consumer and retail research, Nik Modi, said in the note.Estee Lauder is scheduled to release its latest quarterly and full-year results this week.RBC estimates the cosmetics company to deliver fourth-quarter per-share adjusted earnings of $0.30 and revenue of $3.49 billion, compared with the Street's view for $0.32 and $3.55 billion, respectively.Companies across the beauty, luxury and retail industries have seen mixed quarterly results, but "lean slightly positive" for Estee Lauder, according to the brokerage. Hard luxury companies such as Richemont and Swatch and beauty giants like L'Oreal, e.l.f. Beauty (ELF) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) recorded robust growth, while premium beauty in core Europe was mixed and the Middle East war remained a headwind, RBC added.The brokerage believes Estee Lauder remains actively engaged in merger and acquisition opportunities, with the execution of its profit recovery and growth plan potentially giving the company greater capacity to pursue larger transformational deals that fit its portfolio.In May, Estee Lauder and Spanish beauty company Puig said they ended discussions over a potential business combination. Estee Lauder at the time said it would continue to evaluate potential acquisitions and divestitures.RBC maintained its outperform rating on Estee Lauder's stock with a price target of $111."We believe that (Estee Lauder) shares are undervalued when considering cost-cutting initiatives, recovering top-line, and the current turnaround momentum," the brokerage said.

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Wire

Bath & Body Works Expands Distribution With Ulta Beauty Partnership

Bath & Body Works (BBWI) said Tuesday it has entered into a partnership with Ulta Beauty (ULTA) to bring a selection of its body care and home fragrance products to over 600 Ulta Beauty stores across the US and online platform Ulta.com, starting July 12.Financial details weren't provided.The partnership is part of its broader strategy to reach more customers beyond company-owned stores and digital channels, Bath & Body Works said.Shares of Bath & Body Works and Ulta Beauty were up 4% and 0.7%, respectively, in Tuesday trading.Price: $20.42, Change: $+0.79, Percent Change: +4.02%

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Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Mixed Premarket Tuesday

Consumer stocks were mixed premarket Tuesday, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) up 1.5% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) 0.9% lower.Edgewell Personal Care (EPC) has rejected an unsolicited $30-per-share takeover bid from private equity firm Yellow Wood Partners, with the board deeming the offer too low, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Shares of Edgewell Personal Care were up more than 9% pre-bell.Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) shares were up more than 1% after the company said it has launched a search process for the future CEO of Global Coffee, which will be separated as an independent public entity.Ulta Beauty (ULTA) will begin selling Bath & Body Works (BBWI) products at over 600 retail locations on July 12 as part of turnaround plans by both companies, Reuters reported, citing company executives. Ulta Beauty shares were 0.7% lower, while Bath & Body Works stock was up 0.3% pre-bell.

$BBWI$EPC$KDP$ULTA$XLP$XLY
Wire

NIQ Global Intelligence to Launch Unified Beauty Sales Tracker in Q4

NIQ Global Intelligence (NIQ) plans to launch its Full View of Beauty Channel in Q4, a unified data platform that tracks beauty product sales across major retail channels.The system will combine NIQ's measurement across grocery, drug, and mass retail with data from Ulta Beauty (ULTA), Sephora, Sally Beauty Holdings (SBH) and other specialty and department store retailers.Ahead of the launch, NIQ will introduce Amazon.com (AMZN) third-party marketplace measurement in Q3, initially covering health and beauty care categories. Key metrics will include volume, share, price, and promotional activity, NIQ said Tuesday in a statement.NIQ said it plans to expand Amazon third-party measurement into additional categories beyond beauty over time.

$AMZN$NIQ$SBH$ULTA
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Mixed Late Afternoon

Consumer stocks were mixed late Wednesday afternoon with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) increasing 0.4% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) falling 1%.In corporate news, FedEx's (FDX) fiscal Q4 earnings may fall short of Wall Street's expectations as margin pressures continue to outweigh stable sales trends, Morgan Stanley said. FedEx shares fell 1%.Walt Disney (DIS) has started selling Super Bowl LXI commercial time at $8 million for a 30-second spot, Variety reported. Disney shares declined 1.8%.Ford Motor's (F) total US vehicle sales in May fell 13.6% to 190,828 from a year earlier, the automaker said. The stock fell 2.8%.Ulta Beauty's (ULTA) limited guidance flow-through from its $0.85 earnings per share beat, along with tougher Q2 to Q4 comparisons, raises questions about the extent of earnings delivery in H2, Morgan Stanley said. Ulta shares dropped 5%.

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Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Mixed Wednesday Afternoon

Consumer stocks were mixed Wednesday afternoon with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) increasing 0.9% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) falling 1.1%.In corporate news, Ford Motor's (F) total US vehicle sales in May fell 13.6% to 190,828 from a year earlier, the automaker said. The stock fell 2.9%.Ulta Beauty's (ULTA) limited guidance flow-through from its $0.85 earnings per share beat, along with tougher Q2 to Q4 comparisons, raises questions about the extent of earnings delivery in H2, Morgan Stanley said. Ulta shares fell 4.5%.Macy's (M) raised its full-year outlook after the department store operator's fiscal Q1 earnings rose unexpectedly. The stock fell 0.6%.

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Wire

Ulta Beauty's Limited Guidance Raises Concerns About H2 Earnings Capacity, Morgan Stanley Says

Ulta Beauty's (ULTA) limited guidance flow-through from its $0.85 earnings per share beat, along with tougher Q2 to Q4 comparisons, raises questions about the extent of earnings delivery in the second half of 2026, Morgan Stanley said in a report Wednesday.While the path to multiple expansion looks less clear than it did three months ago, investors will likely focus on whether Ulta can sustain healthy demand while delivering an expected margin recovery, according to the note.Maintaining a relatively stable two-year stack and incorporating low single-digit March and April trends implies Q2 comparable sales growth of about 2%, versus Street expectations of 3.3%, implying a more modest sales cadence through the rest of the year, the brokerage said.If expense moderation materializes while comparable sales growth remains at about 2.3%, investors could get visibility into operating income growth in 2027, supporting a stronger earnings profile and multiple expansion, the brokerage added.Morgan Stanley kept an overweight rating on Ulta Beauty and lowered the price target to $630 from $700.Shares of Ulta Beauty were down 6% in Wednesday trading.Price: $465.89, Change: $-28.98, Percent Change: -5.86%

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